Jack Frost brings fun! Blowing Rock’s WinterFest offers family friendly, seasonal fun for young and young at heart
BY DAVID ROGERS david.rogers@mountaintimes.com
A
hhh. Late January in Blowing Rock. Bitter cold. Icy sidewalks. Maybe even shoveling knee-deep — or deeper — snow from driveways. Well, it’s a good thing we have Blowing Rock WinterFest from Jan. 27 to 30, 2022, to warm things up with some fun of the season! Orchestrated and produced by the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce in concert with numerous community, civic and nonprofit organizations (with proceeds going to charitable causes), WinterFest is a wintertime experience not to be missed. Thousands come to Blowing Rock on WinterFest weekend to take
PHOTO SUBMITTED Evening bonfires burn at Chetola Resort during a past WinterFest.
part in the “mini-events” that make up the whole. “WinterFest gives
our visitors and local residents alike the opportunity to enjoy the fun
PHOTO BY DAVID ROGERS Town Tavern on Main Street has become a fixture in Blowing Rock’s hospitality industry. One reason is its participation in fun community events and activities, such as this ice sculpture entry in the 2019 WinterFest.
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side of winter,” said Suzy Barker, events director for the Blowing Rock
Chamber of Commerce. Blowing Rock has ice sculptures featured
in front of participating businesses and in Memorial Park beginning Friday, Jan. 28, through the weekend. These renowned ice carvers WOW spectators with their live carving demonstration on Saturday, Jan. 29. “That’s free and fun, seeing the creativity they bring to those. And there are several ice carving demonstrations, all free, throughout the weekend, too,” said Barker. By Saturday, Jan. 29, activities are in full swing. “Nothing warms the mind, body and soul like a good Chili Challenge, and thanks to The Rotary Club of Blowing Rock, several competing restaurants will be putting up their best efforts,” said SEE WINTERFEST ON PAGE 52
PHOTO BY ANDREW COLE Entrees such as Hellbender’s Carolina Burger were served up with draft beer or a glass of wine as part of the WinterFest restaurant crawl.
WINTER TIMES 2021
